Electric signal



H. M. HOPKINS.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED on. 25. me.

Patented Nov. 15, 1921.-

IN l/E/V TOR RICHARD M. HOPKINS, OF RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0.AMERICAN DISTRICT TELEGRAPH COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. A vC0R?OBATION 01NEW Jnnsnv.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL.

Patented not. is, 1921.

Application filed October 25, 1918 Serial No. 259,616.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RICHARD M. HorKiNs, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Rutherford, county ofBergen, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Electric Signals, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whichform a part hereof.

This invention relates to improvements in electric signals. Theinvention seeks to provide a signal that shall be small, compact andsimple in structureand reliable in operation, and that may be operatedby comparatively weak current. It is especially designed for indoor useas part of a supervisory signaling system, wherein it is desirable toindicate the condition of some device in such system which controls thesignal operating circuit.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification, wherein the signal isshown in its preferred form. In said drawings,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the signal with the semaphore in theposition to indicate danger.

Fig. 2 is a similar elevation with the semaphore moved to the left togive a safety or O. K. indication.

Fig. 3 is a plan view, the parts being shown in the same position asFig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation looking from the left of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the particular features shown in the drawings, 1 is anelectromagnet having a soft iron angle piece 2, rigidly fixed to therear end of the core of the magnet. One part of the angle piece 2extends forward parallel to the axis of the magnet and terminates inproximity to the pole piece 5 of the magnet. Rigidly secured to theforward end of the angle piece 2 by means of a screw 4 is a U-shapedbracket 3 which is also fixed to the front face of the pole piece 5 by ascrew 6. The armature 7 is mounted on a pin 8 pivotally fixed in thebracket 3 and in the lug 9 secured to one end of the bracket. Thearmature is preferably in the form of a comparatively slender rod andthe axis of its pivot is parallel to the axis of the magnet. Thearmature is provided with a spring 10 which tends to move the armatureaway from the magnet. This spring is attached at one end to the armatureat a point below its pivotal pin 8 and is attached at its other end toan adjustable screw 11 passing through a lug 12 fixed on one end of thebracket T he armature is so located that when its upper end is attractedby and moves toward the pole piece of the magnet, its lower end isattracted by and moves toward the then magnetized forward end of theiron piece 2.

13 is a disk fixed on the front face of the bracket by means of thescrews 1% and projects below the magnet. This disk preferably carriesthe letters 0. K. and, when exposed to view, is designed to'give asafety indication. phore 15 carried by an arm 16 pivotally mounted on apin 17 carried by the bracket 3 and projecting forward from the upperedge of the bracket. The arm 16 of the semaphore extends above the pin17 and is provided with a slot 18 at its upper end to receive a pin 19fixed to the upper end of the armature 7. l

When the magnet is deenergized, the up per end of the armature is heldby its spring 10 away from the pole of the magnet and against theprojecting end of the screw 4 which acts as astop for the armature atthis time. The semaphore 15 is in alinement with and covers the disk 13to indicate danger. This is the position of the parts shown in Fig. 1.When the magnet is energized,

the pole piece 5 becomes one pole of the magnet and the lower end of theangle piece 2, Fig. 3, becomes the other pole. The upper end of thearmature is therefore attracted by and moves toward the pole piece ofthe magnet and the lower end of the armature is attracted by and movesin the opposite direction toward the end of the angle piece 2. Thisarrangement of the angle piece thus augments the magnetic attraction ofthe armature. In response thereto, it moves readily against the pull ofthe spring 10 and the semaphogre 15 is thereby moved to the left touncover the disk 13 as indicated in Fig. 2. Convenient means may beprovided to arrest this movement of the armature. Such means may be inthe form of a positive stop or in the form of contacts against which thelower end of the armature strikes. Both of these means are shown in thedrawings.

20 is a bracket secured to the angle piece 2 at the rear thereof andcarries the spring of the armature by means of the screw 25.

"When the magnet is energized, the lower end a of the armature, in itsmovement to the left,

causes the insulating plug 24: to strike con-' tact 23 and move it fromconnection with contact 22 into connection with contact 21f If thismovement of the armature is not arrested by the contact 23, when itstrikes contact 21, it will be arrested by the proof amagnet having aprojecting pole piece;

jecting end of the screw 25 coming in contactwith the lower face of theangle piece 2.

It will be seenthat although the signal, as a whole, is small andcompact, its structure is nevertheless simple and rugged and not easilyderanged and may be made'at' a comparatively small cost. It will also beseen that the signal is eflicient and reliable in operation for whichonly a comparatively weak current is required.

What I claim is:

l. In an electric signal, the combination of a magnet having polepieces; a bracket supported by the magnet in proximity to the polepieces; an armature pivotally mounted intermediate its ends and betweenthe poles on said bracket on an axis parallel to the pole pieces; and asemaphore pivotally mounted on said bracket on an axis parallel to thepole pieces and positively actuated by the armature.

2; In an electric signal, the combination of a magnet having aprojecting pole piece; a bracket supported by the magnet in proximity tothe pole piece; an armature pivotally mounted on said bracket on an axisparallel to the pole piece; a semaphore pivotally mounted on saidbracket mechanism interconnecting the armature and the semaphore wherebythe armature positively actuates the semaphore; and a fixed signal diskcarried by the bracket arranged to be covi ered and uncoveredby saidsemaphore.

3. In an electr1c signal, the comblnatlon a bracket supported by themagnet'i'n proximity to thewpole piece; a soft iron angle piece fixed tothe end of the magnet opposite the pole piece and'having its forward endin proximity to said pole piece; an armature pivotally mounted on anaxis parallel to the pole piece with its opposite ends subject toattraction by said pole piece and by said soft iron angle piece,respectively; and a semaphore pivotally mounted on said bracket andactuatedby the armature. V

a. In an electric signal, the combination a'soft iron angle piece fixedto the end of the magnet opposite the pole piece and having itsforwardend in proximity to said pole piece; a bracket supported by themagnet; Van armature pivotally mounted on said bracket on an axisparallel to the pole piecephore pivotally mounted on said bracket andactuated by the armature.

5. In an electric signal, the combination of a magnet having aprojecting pole piece; a soft iron angle piece fixed to the end of themagnet opposite the pole piece and hav ing its forward end in proximityto said pole piece; a bracket fixed to one end of said angle piece andto the pole piece; an armature in the form of a rod pivotally mounted onsaid bracket on an axis parallel to the pole piece with itsopposite endsSubject to attraction by said pole piece and by the forward end of theangle piece, respectively; a spring tending to move the armature awayfrom the magnet; a semaphore pivotally mounted on said bracket andconnected with the armature by a pin and slot connection; and a fixedsignal disklarranged to be covered semaphore.

Th1s specificatlon signed this 23rd day of October, 1918. Y

RICHARD M. HOPKINS and uncovered by said

